Oldest Living Former Major Leaguer, Connie Marrero, Turns 100
Monday, April 25, 2011, marks the centennial birthday celebration of Conrado Eugenio “Connie” Marrero, the oldest former major leaguer in the world and the last living Cuban big-leaguer from the pre-revolution days of the island nation. Marrero joined the Washington Senators in 1950 as a grizzled 39-year-old “rookie” and spent parts of five seasons pitching at Griffith Stadium, making the 1951 American League All-Star team.
Marrero’s 100th birthday today places him in select company: He is only the 16th major league player known to have reached that illustrious age. (See the full list below). The last player to do so, Anthony “Tony” Malinosky, died on February 8, a few months after his 101st birthday.
We invite you to celebrate Marrero’s birthday by reading a collection of stories written by SABR members about the Cuban baseball legend:
- On April 9, Bjarkman previewed Marrero’s centennial celebration (HavanaTimes.org)
Below, see a list of the oldest living former major leaguers and a list of the 16 former major leaguers known to have reached their 100th birthdays, as compiled by Bill Carle, chairman of SABR’s Biographical Research Committee.
Oldest living former major leaguers, as of April 25, 2011:
| Name | Nickname | Debut | Birth date |
| Conrado Eugenio Marrero | Connie | 1950-04-21 | 1911-04-25 |
| Clarence McKay Parker | Ace | 1937-04-24 | 1912-05-17 |
| Alexander Pitko | Alex | 1938-09-11 | 1914-11-22 |
| Elmer Ralph Hodgin | Ralph | 1939-04-19 | 1915-02-10 |
| Nicholas Strincevich | Nick | 1940-04-23 | 1915-03-01 |
| Michael Joseph Sandlock | Mike | 1942-09-19 | 1915-10-17 |
| Benjamin Jenison McCoy | Benny | 1938-09-14 | 1915-11-09 |
| Frederick Albert Schmidt | Freddy | 1944-04-25 | 1916-02-09 |
| Arthur Joseph Kenney | Art | 1938-07-01 | 1916-04-29 |
| Daniel Webster Litwhiler | Danny | 1940-04-25 | 1916-08-31 |
| Ray Wilson Hathaway | Ray | 1945-04-20 | 1916-10-13 |
| Edwin Elliott Carnett | Eddie | 1941-04-19 | 1916-10-21 |
| Allen Francis Veigel | Al | 1939-09-21 | 1917-01-30 |
| Ford Parker Mullen | Moon | 1944-04-18 | 1917-02-09 |
| Alex Monchak | Alex | 1940-06-22 | 1917-03-05 |
| Virgil Oliver Trucks | Virgil | 1941-09-27 | 1917-04-26 |
| Leonard Richard Merullo | Lennie | 1941-09-12 | 1917-05-05 |
| Michael Raymond Palagyi | Mike | 1939-08-18 | 1917-07-04 |
| Carl Thomas Miles | Carl | 1940-06-08 | 1918-03-22 |
| Louis Joseph Lucier | Lou | 1943-04-23 | 1918-03-23 |
Major leaguers who lived to be 100 years old (updated 4/5/2016):
| Name | Birth date | Death date |
Age |
| Chester Cornelius Hoff | 1891-05-08 | 1998-09-17 | 107.3593 |
| Conrado Eugenio Marrero | 1911-04-25 | 2014-04-23 | 102.9945 |
| Robert Cassius Wright | 1891-12-13 | 1993-07-30 | 101.6263 |
| Anthony Francis Malinosky | 1909-10-07 | 2011-02-08 | 101.3388 |
| Karl Edward Swanson | 1900-12-17 | 2002-04-03 | 101.2923 |
| John Francis Daley | 1887-05-25 | 1988-08-31 | 101.2676 |
| Paul Franklin Otis | 1889-12-24 | 1990-12-15 | 100.9719 |
| Rolland Mays Stiles | 1906-11-17 | 2007-07-22 | 100.6762 |
| William Murray Werber | 1908-06-20 | 2009-01-22 | 100.5914 |
| Raymond Lee Cunningham | 1905-01-17 | 2005-07-30 | 100.5311 |
| Charles Henry Emig | 1875-04-05 | 1975-10-02 | 100.4901 |
| Michael Joseph Sandlock | 1915-10-17 | 2016-04-04 | 100.4685 |
| Howard Hoffman Groskloss | 1906-04-10 | 2006-07-15 | 100.2628 |
| Nathaniel Milton Gaston | 1896-01-27 | 1996-04-26 | 100.2437 |
| Edward James Gill | 1895-08-07 | 1995-10-10 | 100.1725 |
| Ralph Darwin Miller | 1873-03-15 | 1973-05-07 | 100.1424 |
| Ralph Lief Erickson | 1902-06-25 | 2002-06-27 | 100.0055 |
Charts provided by SABR member Bill Carle, chairman of the Biographical Research Committee.
Originally published: April 25, 2011. Last Updated: April 25, 2011.